the player must have played in 75% of competitive games, where he was available for selection, during the last complete season immediately prior to the start date of the season where the player is seeking to come to the UK

(for example the season ends March/April '13 and the player wants to play in UK season starting September '13)

There are then additional definitions of acceptable leagues in which those defined games must have been played. If the team does not feature in the leagues listed below, it is not classed as an acceptable professional league.

Players coming to UK from Canadian or USA teams

National Hockey League (NHL)

American Hockey League (AHL)

East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)

Central Hockey League (CHL)

United Hockey League (UHL)

Players coming to UK from European teams

European Country

Top professional league

2nd professional league

Czech Republic

Czech Extra Liga

1st Liga

World Seniors

Denmark

Oddset Ligean

Finland

SM Liiga

Mestis

Italy

Serie A

Latvia

Latvian Championship

Slovenia

Interliga

Switzerland

National Liga A

National Liga B

Slovakia

T-Com Extra Liga

1st Liga

Sweden

Elitserien

All Svenskan

Ukraine

Premier League

1st League

Russia

PHL

Suer Liga (see note)

Belarus

Pressbol Championship

Kazakhstan

Karagunda Liga

Norway

UPC Ligaen

1st Division

France

Ligue Magnus

Division 1

World Seniors division 1

Germany

DEL

1st Bundesliga

Hungary

Borsodi

Austria

Erste Bank EHL

National Liga

Estonia

Eesti MV

Lithuania

Lithuanian National Championship

Netherlands

Tricorp Workwear Eredivisie

Eerste Divisie

Poland

Ekstra Liga

1st Liga

Note: Russia does have a 3rd professional league:Higher League East and Higher League West

Olympics/World Championship players

Players who have represented their country in the Olympics or the World Championship and have played 75% of competition games for IIHF World Championship Seniors national side (the first 14 countries in the list above) within 12 months prior to a work permit application will satisfy the criteria. So for example, a player who has appeared in the required number of games for Russia in the Olympics will qualify.